European Commission fines Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo €166m

Electronics companies Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo have been fined €166m for their involvement in a cartel with Samsung SDI, fixing the pricing of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in laptops and mobile phones.

Samsung SDI was exempt from the fine for revealing the existence of the cartel to the commission, avoiding a penalty of €57.7m.

All the companies admitted to their participating in the price-fixing activity and have agreed to settle the case.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are the most common type of rechargeable batteries used in portable electronic and electrical devices.

European commissioner in charge of competition policy, Margrethe Vestager said: "Millions of Europeans use laptops, mobile phones and power tools that run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

“Today's decision sanctions four rechargeable battery producers whose collusion affected the prices of a number of goods sold to European consumers. It also sends an important signal to companies: if European consumers are affected by a cartel, the Commission will investigate it even if the anticompetitive contacts took place outside Europe."

The four companies agreed on temporary price increases between 2004 and 2007 and exchanged commercially sensitive information such as supply and demand forecasts, price forecasts or intentions concerning particular competitive bids.

Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo received reductions to their fines for their cooperation with the commission's investigation.

Sanyo received the highest fine at €97.1m followed by Panasonic at €38.9m and Sony at €29.8m.